9 Sep (Matt 21)

The Gospels: Jesus Shows Righteous Anger

Matthew 21

(v.12) Jesus came the first time to save John 3:17 but in two occasions in this chapter, He judges the hypocrisy of Israel. The Temple had become a retail outlet...not a revered place to get closer to God. There is such a thing as righteous anger, and that is allowed by God. If we are angered at sin and evil, then our anger is in alignment with God. If we are angry because of something personal, then we are not in alignment with God. In any case, we are instructed to let God fight our battles.

(v.19) The fig tree was used by Jesus as an illustration of Israel, and their hypocrisy that didn't bear fruit. Just like the fig tree, Israel should have been bearing fruit by showing the world who the only true God was. But instead, they were acting like the rest of the world.

God is love, but He is also Just. He demands we make a choice...either we choose Him, or we choose our own pride.

(v.31) Jesus shows the disciples by telling the Pharisees a parable, that those who say they have faith, but don't show it, are not going to enter into heaven.

(v.43) I can't help but feel that Jesus was alluding to America in this verse! After the Jews rejected their King and Messiah, God reached out to the Gentiles. America was established by Christians, and they used the Bible as their main source to form the Constitution and its laws.

There has been no other country or nation in history that comes close to spreading the Gospel like America! It is our job today to make sure we don't turn away from God, for if we do, we will lose His blessings for us.